Elvis Presley sang about seeing “suspicion in your eyes,” and Graceland is feeling it. The estate of the legendary rockstar is calling items up for bidding with the California-based auction house GWS into question after what is allegedly a one-of-a-kind jacket hit the block–despite claims that it’s still hanging in the King’s Memphis closet.
According to Robb Report, Presley procured the black grommet jacket in 1972. When Joel Weinshanker, managing partner of Elvis Presley Enterprises, saw the piece go up for auction, he was, well, all shook up; Weinshanker says that the jacket has no duplicates and is still hanging in the singer’s private collection at Graceland. He also claims that he still has the receipt for the purchase.
“We know there was only one made, and guess what? We have it in our archives,” Weinshanker told NBC News in an interview from Presley’s former Memphis home, noting that they’re suspicious about several other items that were put up for auction by the same company. These range from items are as small as pieces of Presley’s jewelry all the way up to his private jet, per Robb Report.
GWS has issued a statement in response, maintaining that their items are authentically linked to the music icon. “EPE is not the only source of expertise with respect to Elvis Presley memorabilia. While experts can legitimately form different opinions regarding the authenticity of any item in any asset class, GWS stands behind everything that it sells, and categorically denies trafficking in fake or inauthentic items attributed to Elvis Presley, or otherwise,” the statement reads. “GWS Auctions is one of the most respected and reputable names in the Elvis Presley marketplace. GWS stands behind everything that it has sold in the Elvis Presley space, and otherwise, all of which has passed GWS's strict internal qualification standards.”
Adding another layer of intrigue is the fact that GWS is owned by Brigitte Kruse, who worked as power of attorney for Presley’s ex-wife, Priscilla Presley. Some of the items were reportedly offered with a letter from Priscilla vouching for their authenticity, even though Elvis would have possessed them at the time, given they were no longer together. Kruse reportedly told NBC that she “100%” stood by the validity of her Elvis relics.
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NBC noted that Kruse’s relationship with Priscilla has since fallen apart. Last fall, Kruse filed a lawsuit accusing Priscilla of excluding her from lucrative deals, despite Kruse helping her out financially. In response, Priscilla filed a lawsuit against Kruse and three other former financial associates just last week, TMZ reported. The lawsuit accuses Kruse and the others of stealing over $1 million in an elder abuse scheme.
This isn’t the first time Kruse has filed a lawsuit against Priscilla. Back in September 2023, she filed a lawsuit for breach of contract, claiming Priscilla cut her out of business deals regarding the Sofia Coppola–directed Priscilla movie starring Saltburn star Jacob Elordi and Cailee Spaeny.
